Ice body maker with bin control



Oct. 25, 1966 w. J. LINSTROMBERG 3,280,578

ICE BODY MAKER WITH BIN CONTROL Filed June 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 w.J. LlNSTROMBERG 32%,578

ICE BODY MAKER WITH BIN CONTROL Oct. 25, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aw W @m 5RN g.

mmN

Filed June 24, 1965 1966 w J. LINSTROMBERG 3,280,578

ICE BODY MAKER WITH BIN CONTROL Filed June 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet '5Oct. 25, 1966 w. J. LINSTROMBERG 3,230,578

ICE BODY MAKER WITH BIN CONTROL Filed June 24, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 1[III-IIIII/IIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIII.VII/III Oct. 25, 1966 w. J.LINSTROMBERG 3,280,578

ICE BODY MAKER WITH BIN CONTROL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 24, 1965Oct. 25, 1966 w. J. LINSTROMBERG 3,280,578

ICE BODY MAKER WITH BIN CONTROL Filed June 24, 1965 5 w J w 1 Z 21 3 xmm $3 J 6 1 1 p 1 L M w a w l1 1 J1 3 jsl l w V MW W H a H1 2 I W I 1 I1 Q 6 2 mm 3 1 w United States Patent 3,280,578 ICE BODY MAKER WITH BINCONTRQL William J. Linstromberg, Evansville, Ind., assignor to WhirlpoolCorporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 24, 1965, Ser. No.466,528 16 Claims. (Cl. 62-137) This invention relates to refrigerationapparatus and in particular to apparatus for making ice bodies and thelike.

In one known form of ice maker, a plurality of ice bodies is formed in asuitable mold having a plurality of upwardly opening cavities formed ina tray by a plurality of partition walls. Water is delivered to therespective cavities by delivery from a supply into one end cavity toflow therefrom successively over the respective mold partition wallsuntil each of the cavities is filled. The water in the cavities issuitably refrigerated to form the desired ice bodies in the moldcavities. Upon completion of the freezing of the ice bodies, they areejected from the mold cavities by means of a plurality of fingers whichare swept downwardly into and through the respective cavities to ejectthe ice bodies upwardly and outwardly from the cavities to be harvestedin a subjacent collecting bin.

Further, in such ice makers, means are conventionally. provided forpreventing operation thereof when the level of ice bodies in thecollecting bin reaches a preselected high level. Such meansconventionally comprise sensing arms which move downwardly into thecollecting bin to sense the ice body level and provide a suitablecontrol of the ice maker mechanism to prevent further ice bodyproduction in the event that the level is above the preselected level.It has been found to be desirable in such ice makers to provideadditional means for holding the sensing arm in a shut-off positionirrespective of the ice body level at certain times such as when thecollecting bin is removed.

The present invention comprehends an improved ice maker which provideseach of thedesirable features discussed above in a novel and simplemanner.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision ofsuch an ice maker having new and improved meansfor'holding in a shut offposition the means for sensing the level of ice bodies in the collectingspace.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such an ice makerhaving new and improved means for readily. releasably retaining thesensing means in the shut-off provision.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such an ice makerwherein the retaining means comprises a single spring arranged to biasthe sensing means into a normal operative disposition and selectivelyinto the held shut-off position.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such an icemaker wherein the spring means comprises a coil spring having oneportion biasingthe sensing means in one direction and a second portionbiasing the sensing means in a second direction transverse to said onedirection.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIGUREI is a fragmentary perspective view of a refrigeration apparatushavingan ice maker embodying the invention, portions being broken awayfor facilitating illustration of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram illustrating thecircuitry of the ice maker;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the control of the ice maker with the coverbroken away to illustrate in elevation the elements disposed forwardlyof a front mounting plate of the control;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of theice maker;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical Section taken. substantially along the line 5-5of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along theline 6-6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section of the controltaken substantially alongthe line 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along theline 8-8 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary'horizontal section taken substantially alongthe line 9-9 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section similar to that of FIGURE9 but with the gear in an axially rearwardly displaced position;

FIGURE 11 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken substantially along theline 11-11 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section illustrating aportion of the control as shown in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially alongthe line 13-13 of FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary transverse section similar to that of FIGURE12 but with the sensing arm in a shut-off position;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of controlembodying the invention having means for adjusting the water deliverydisposed externally of the housing, with the cover bro-ken away forfacilitated illustration;

FIGURE 16 is a front elevation of a control having a modified means foradjusting the water delivery from externally of the housing;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of an ice body as formed in the icemaker illustrated in FIGURES. 1 through 16;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of the ice maker;

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially alongthe line 19-19 of FIGURE. 20; and

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mold of the icemaker, with a portion of the stripper member as mounted thereon In theexemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, arefrigeration apparatus generally designated is provided with an icemaker 113. As shown in FIGURE 1, ice maker 1.18 is disposed within achamber 112 defined by aninsulated cabinet 111 having a front opening113 selectively closed by a door 114. The refrigeration apparatus 110may further include a subjacent abovefreezing chamber 115 having a frontopening 116 selectivelys closed by a door 117. Chambers 112 and 115 aresuitably refrigeratedas by forced air or refrigerated plate conductiveheat transfer means, herein they are refrigerated by a suitableevaporator 120 disposed within the walls of the cabinet 111. Theevporator herein forms a portion of a conventional refrigeration circuitincluding a compressor 121, a condenser 122, a capillary 123, andconduits 124 and 125 for delivering refrigerant to and from theevaporator 120.

The ice maker 118, as shown in FIGURE 18, includes a mold 126 in whichice bodies III (FIGURE 17) are formed and from which the ice bodiesare-ejected to a subjacent collecting bin 119 (FIGURE 1) by means of anejector 131 which sweeps through the mold during the ejection cycle. Theejector member swings the icebodies out of the mold and against astripper member 208 (FIG- URE 18) i which effectively positively stripsthe ice bodies from the ejector 131 and causes them to fall downwardlyinto the collecting bin 119. Cyclical operation of the ejector 131 isautomatically effected by a control'130 dis.- posed at the forward endof the mold 126 (FIGURE 18). In addition to cycling the ejector 131,control 130 further automatically provides for refilling of the mold forsubsequent further ice body formation therein, in the.

event that the level of ice bodies in the collecting bin 119 is below apreselected full level. Toward this end, control 130 is provided with asensing arm 261 which periodically senses the level of ice bodies (ieduring each ejection cycle) and suitably affects the operation of thecontrol 130 to discontinue the ice forming cycling discussed above whenthe level of ice bodies in collecting bin 119 reaches the preselectedlevel.

Mold 126 defines a plurality of upwardly opening cavities 133 in whichthe ice bodies II are formed. The water from which the ice bodies areformed is delivered to the ,mold 126 by means of an inlet 127 connectedto a solenoid operated valve 128 by a delivery tube 129. Valve 128 maybe connected to a suitable source of water under pressure (not shown).

Mold means Referring to FIGURES 4, 6 and 20, mold 126 herein morespecifically comprises a tray structure having a bottom wall 170, sidewalls 171 and 172, rear end wall 173, and a front end wall 174. Aplurality of partition walls 132 extend transversely across the mold todefine, with the above indicated tray walls, the cavities 133 in whichthe respective ice bodies II are formed. Herein, each cavity 133 ispartially divided by a partial dividing wall 134 which extendstransversely across the cavity, as best seen in FIGURES 6 and 20. Eachof the partition walls and dividing walls is provided with a recessedupper edge portion through which the water flows from the end cavity133a successively forwardly to the respective cavities until allcavities are. filled to the level L, as shownin FIG- URE 6. Thus, therecessed edge portions of the respective partitionand dividing walls,over which the water flows, effectively define a plurality of 'weirsover which a small body, or bridge, of connecting ice forms during thefreezing operation. As shown in FIGURE 6, however, the recess 176 in theupper edge of the partial dividing wall 134 is substantially larger thanthe recess 135 in the partition wall 132 below the level Lso that theconnecting portion 177 of ice disposed in the recess 176 will besubstantially larger, and less frangible, than the connecting portion178 of ice in the recess 135. The connecting ice portion 177 of ice bodyII, as shown in FIGURE 17, is preferably sufficiently strong to preventbreaking thereof during the normal ejection and transfer of the ice bodyII from the mold cavity 133 to the collecting bin 119. Illustratively,the connecting portions 178between the respective ice bodies may breakas a result of the impact of the ice bodies resulting from their freefall into the collecting bin, the connecting portions 177 beingsuificiently strong to preclude breakage as from such impact forces.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the partition walls 132 and partial dividing walls134 may narrow slightly, upwardly from bottom Wall 170. Each partitionwall is provided with a substantially flat upper surface 179. Thepartial dividing wall includes a substantially flat upper surfaceportion 180 (FIGURE 6), but the portion thereof defining the recess 176is provided with a chamfered, or wedge-shaped, edge which as best seenin FIGURE 6 includes an outer portion 181, a bottomportion 182, and aninner portion 183. Thus, the partial dividing wall 134 forms a slot 184in the ice body II (FIGURE 17) effecectively dividing the ice, body intoa pair of spaced major portions 185 and 186 disposed to the oppositesides of the partial dividing wall 134 during the forming of the icebody in cavity 133, and connected by the connecting ice portion 177 todefine the complete, bifurcated ice body. The chamfered edge portions182 and 183 of the recess 176 form a fracture-inducing line 187 in theice body at the inner edge of the slot 184. Likewise, chamfered edgeportion 181 forms an extension of the fracture-inducing line 187 along aportion of the periphery of the .ice body II. Thus, while connecting iceportion 177 is relatively strong and prevents separation of the.

ice body portions 185 and 186 from each other during the ejection andcollecting in bin 119, theice body II may be subsequently readily brokeninto two portions by simple fracture of the ice body along the line 187.

As shown in FIGURE 6, dividing walls 134 extend inwardly from the lowerright-hand boundary of the space S in cavity 133 below the level Ltoward the upper lefthand boundary of the space defined by theopen endof the cavity at levelL and the upper portion of the left mold side wall172 below the level L. The resultant ice body II, therefore, has atransverse periphery (i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal extent ofthe mold) which is defined by a flat upper surface a and a segrnentallycylindrical lower surface b corresponding to the periphcry of the spaceS as defined by the water level L and the cylindrical surface of thecavity 133 below the level L as shown in FIGURE 6. Each partial dividingwall'134 extends lengthwise parallel to the dividing walls along thisperiphery of the ice body-forming space over approximately one-half thefull periphery of the space while yet providing the desirable connectingportion 177 in the ice body II by virtue of the larger size of dividingwall recess 176 as compared to recess of the partition wall 132. Theminimum cross-section of the connecting ice portion 177 as definedsubstantially-by the area outwardly of the fracture-inducing line 187parallel to the lengthwise extent of the dividing wall 134 ispreselected to provide the desirable normal maintaining of the two icebody portions and 186 in attached association until separated byintentional action of the user.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the partial dividing wall 134 herein is disposedsubstantially at the center of cavity 133 so as to divide the cavitysymmetrically into two halves whereby each of the ice body portions 185and 186 isv substantially identical. As further shown in FIGURE 8, eachof the partition and partial dividing walls is formed integrally withthebottom wall '170 and the side walls of the mold. The mold ispreferably formed of a material having high thermal conductivity and,thus, the par- 7 tial dividing walls 134 provide an improved fastfreezing of the ice' body as it'projects upwardly into the center of theforming ice bodies to conduct heat readily from this mid-portion of thewater delivered to the cavity 133, which normally is the last portion tobe frozen. Thus, ice maker 118 provides a substantially increased rateof ice body production providing improved efficiency in the operation ofapparatus 110.

Thermostat means The refrigeration of the water in the mold 126 isherein effected by the cold air within chamber 112; although as will beobvious to those skilled in the art, other suitable means may beemployed for refrigerating the mold within the scope of the invention.Control 130, as indicated above, includes a thermostat 254, herein ofthe bimetallic type, which senses the temperature of the mold 126 todetermine the completion of freezing of the ice bodies and as a resultthereof automatically initiate the ejection cycle. As best seen inFIGURE 8, the thermostat includes a sensing portion 255 projecting,rearwardly through the housing wall 199 into thermal transfer contactwith the rear wall 174 of the mold. As shown in FIGURE 11, thethermostat may be biased against the mold wall 174 by a flat spring 256secured to a. boss 257 in housing 200 I upon complete freezing of theice bodies therein-has had,

I? face 213 of each finger 209a and 245% is inclined downwardly towardapron 210 so as to guide the stripped ice body downwardly around theright side wall 171 and into the subjacent collecting bin 119.

Fingers 2091) are substantially similar to fingers 299a but are arrangedto overlie the partition walls 132 defining the ends of the cavities133. Thus, fingers cffectively comprise guide fingers which effectivelypreclude cocking of the ice bodies as they are stripped from the ejectorbetween stripper fingers 20917 and, thus, cooperate with the stripperfingers 299a in effectively blocking reentry of the ejected ice bodiesinto the cavities 133. The spacing between the guide fingers 29917 isslightly less than the width of the ice bodies (the fore and aftdimension thereof perpendicular to the planes of the partition walls132) and, thus, each of the opposite ends of the ice body engage thecorresponding guide fingers during the stripping operation to be guidedthereby as discussed above. The inclined upper surfaces 213 of the guidefingers similarly direct the stripped ice bodies over the side wall 171and apron 210 to fall into the collecting bin, whereby the impact forcesresulting from this free fall of the ice bodies effectively break thefrangible connections 178 between the respective ice bodies II, therebycompleting the formation of the plurality of ice bodies II.

The stripper member 263, comprising the stripper.

fingers 209a, the guide fingers 20%, and the apron 210, is preferably aone-piece molding formed of an insulating plastic so as to minimizemelting of the ice bodies II when in engagement therewith. Theinsulating fingers 209a and 20% preclude engagement of the ice bodieswith the metal mold walls and the insulating apron 210 precludesengagement thereof with the exterior of side wall 171 during transfer ofthe ice bodies to the collecting bin.

Motor-drive means The control 130, as indicated above, includes a motor204 which provides the necessary ejection force to the ejector 131. Themotor 204 is provided with an output shaft 214 shown in FIGURE 3extending forwardly from the motor through a front mounting plate 215 inhousing 200 and carrying forwardly of the plate 215 a drive gear 216meshing with a larger gear 217 carried on the forward end 218 of theshaft 203 driving the ejector 131. Shaft end 218 is journalled in anopening 219 in plate 215 and includes a forward cam portion 220immediately rearwardly of the plate 215 (see FIGURE 8). As best seen inFIGURE 7, cam portion 220 is provided with a pair of camming recesses221 and 222 which are spaced apart approximately 90 degrees to controloperation of a pair of snap acting switches 223 and 224 having plungers225 and 226, respectively.

Not only must motor 204 provide the necessary torque for ejecting theice bodies from the mold cavities, but also must provide accurate timingof the control cycle. For example, the water fill control means ofcontrol 139 is arranged to open the water supply valve 128 for apreselected period of time proper for delivering a quantity of water tothe mold 126 for accurately filling the cavities 133 to the level L.Undesirable variation in the timing as may result from undesirablevariations in the speed of the drive motor may cause the water deliveryto vary during successive cycles and thereby cause the ice bodies tovary undesirably in size and in the frangible nature of the connectionsbetween the ice bodies and ice body portions. Herein, motor 264 is anhysteresis type synchronous motor which operates at a substantiallyconstant speed at all times. In the illustrated embodiment, motor 2&4develops approximately 40 inch ounces of starting torque and 70 inchounces of stalling torque at rated voltage. The gearing is preferablyarranged to operate the ejector at less than approximately one rpm. andherein operate the ejector at approximately one-third rpm. and with lessthan approximately 15 inch-pounds of torque, herein the motor andgearing are preselected to operate the ejector with approximately 13inch-pounds of torque. The use of the hysteresis synchronous motorprovides the highly desirable advantages herein of low cost, small size,low weight, accurate repetitive timing, and reduced stalling torquepermitting the use of the molded plastic (c.g. acetyl resin, nylon,etc.) ejector and eliminating the need for door switches and the likeheretofore required to prevent operation of the ejector when the icemaker was exposed to the user. Further, synchronous motor 204 provides asmall coasting Which effectively precludes dead breaking of the doublethrow switch 223. More specifically, double throw switch 223 is arrangedto energize the motor 204 when in either of its fully thrown positions,as shown in FIGURE 2. During the movement of the moving contact 223!)thereof, however, between the fully thrown positions, the motor 234 iseffectively de-energized. It is desirable, therefore, that the motorcoast suificiently so as to cause cam surface 222 to effect fullthrowing of the switch and prevent a condition wherein the movingcontact 2231) is held somewhere intermediate its fully thrown positionswith the motor maintained de-energized.

It is further desirable in control to provide a unidirectional drivewhich will permit simplified manual reverse movement as duringadjustment of the control. As the hysteresis motor 204 provides aunidirectional operation without ratchets and the like necessary toprovide unidirectional operation with induction motors, a simplifiedadjustment and testing i obtained. Further, as the mechanism to provideunidirectional operation is eliminated by means of hysteresis motor 2%,a much quieter operation is obtained during the stalled condition ashunting is effectively eliminated. At the same time, the possibility ofgear damage is effectively precluded.

Water fill control means Switch 223 is fixedly secured to the rear ofthe plate 215 by means of a pair of screws 227 extending through theswitch and a spacer block 228 and threaded through the plate 215 (FIGURE8). Switch 224 is secured to a support bar 229 by a pair of screws 23%and 231. As seen in FIGURE 3, the lower screw 231 extends through asmall threaded opening 232 in the plate 215 to pivotally mount thesupport 229 on the plate 215. The screw 230 extends through a largeopening 233 in the plate 215 which permits arcuate movement of screw 230about the axis of screw 231 and thereby permits switch 224 carried bythe support 229 to move arcuately about the axis of screw 232 toward andfrom the cam 22%, as best seen in FIGURE 7. The pivotal disposition ofthe support 229 is controlled by a screw 234 which extends through aturned tab 235 formed on the upper end of the support 229 and projectingthrough a rectangular opening 236 in the plate 215 (see FIGURE 3). Theplate is provided with an upset tab 237 having a threaded opening 238through which the screw 234 is threaded. A compression spring 239 isdisposed between the tabs 235 and 237 to urge the tab 235 against thehead 240 of the screw 234. Thus, by adjusting screw 234, the pivotalposition of support 229 may be varied selectively in a clockwise orcounterclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 3, to bring the switch 224selectively away from and toward the cam 22% (FIGURE 7). A suitableindicia means 241 may be provided on the plate 215 for indicating thesense of control effected by the screw adjustment.

The bodily movement of the switch 224 effects an adjustable positioningof the actuator 226 thereof relative to the camming recess 221, which asbest seen in FIGURE 7, includes an inwardly sloped leading cam surface242 and an outwardly sloped trailing cam surface 243. The actuator 226is spring biased outwardly against the cam so that by pivoting theswitch 224 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in 5to be approximately 13 F. or below. By removing heat energy directlyfrom a mid-portion of the cavity 133, the ice bodies are formed withsubstantially less refrigeration than heretofore required where therefrigerating surfaces of the mold cavities were limited to theperipheral boundaries thereof. As a result of the improved efficiency ofrefrigeration, thermostat means 254 herein may comprise an inexpensiverelatively wide tolerance thermostat thereby substantially reducing thecost of control 130 as compared to the known controls requiring the useof more expensive thermostats having narrower operating tolerances. Morespecifically, herein thermostat 254 comprises a thermostat having anoperational tolerance of plus or minus 5 F. Thus, the thermostat maycomprise a thermostat nominally rated to operate at a low temperature of18 F. As the actual operating temperature of the thermostat may be 23 F.(i.e. l8+5=23 where the specific thermostat is one at the upper end ofthe tolerance range), the ejection cycle as controlled by the thermostatwill be initiated at the time the temperature of the mold as sensed bythe thermostat is reduced to 23 F. Where the specific thermostat is onewhich actually operates at the lower end of the tolerance range, i.e. at13 F. the refrigeration of the mold will becontinued beyond the pointWhere the ice bodies are fully formed and until the portion of the moldsensed by the thermostat reaches the 13 F. point. This entire range ofoperation, however, is above the range of operation of the thermostatspreviously employed which were required to sense a mold temperature at13 F. or below. As the temperature of the refrigerating. means isconventionally approximately F., if at F. tolerance thermostat were tobe used where this lower temperature range is required, one would haveto select thermostats nominally rated at 8 P. so that at the upperend ofthe tolerance range 13 F. operation would be obtained and at the lowerend of the range the thermostats would operate at only 3 F.

The lowering of the mold to approximately 3 F. by refrigerating meanswhich is at approximately 0 F. is substantially impracticalbe-cause ofthe small temperature differential and, thus, the use of relativelyexpensive narrow tolerance thermostats such as thermostat-s having,

tolerances of plus or minus 3 F. only have heretofore been thecommercial practice. Thus, it has been conventional to employthermostats nominally rated at 10 F. with a plus or minus 3 F. toleranceso that such thermostats operate in the range of 7 F. to 13 F. tothereby provide the necessary differential above the 0' F. refrigerationtemperature to permit satisfactory operation.

Such narrow tolerance thermostats, however, are substantially moreexpensive than the above-described wide tolerance 5 F. temperaturedifferential thermostat employed in the present invention and, thus,control 130 provides a substantial reduction in the cost thereof ascompared to the conventional controls requiring such narrow tolerancethermostats.

Thus, ice maker 11% is arranged so that the completion of the freezingof the ice bodies II is caused to occur while the temperature of themold portionsensed by the thermostat 254 is relatively high, i.e. closerto the water freezing temperature of 32 F. than to the refrigerationtemperature herein of 0 F. Herein, this indicative mold temperature is23 F. The substantial differential between such a relatively highthermostat operating temperature and the relatively low 0 F.refrigeration temperature permits the highly desirable use of the abovedescribed low cost thermostat means 254.

To further reduce the cost of the thermostat 254, it is desirable toutilize a relatively high reset temperature. In the illustratedembodiment, the reset temperature of the thermostat 254 is approximately50 F. and, thus, thermostat 254 may be a relatively low cost thermostathaving a differential of over 30 F. between the actuation, 23 F.,temperature and the reset, 50 F., temperature thereof.

Ejector-stripper means As indicated briefly above, the ejection of theice bodies II from the mold cavities 133 is effected herein by anejector 131 comprising a plurality of fingers 188 carried by a shaft189. As best seen in FIGURES 5 and 6, the inlet 127 comprises a plasticcup member provided with a depending annular bearing 190 secured to.wall 173 by a pair of bosses 191 and 192 upstanding from the rear end ofthe mold. Inlet 127 as seen in FIGURE4 defines a well 193for receivingwater from the conduit 129 (FIGURE 1) and a chute 194 for conducting thewater from the well 193 through an opening 195 into the rear cavity 133aof the mold.

Referring to FIGURE 5, the rear end 191 of the ejector shaft 139 isjournalled in the bearing 190. The forward end 197 of the shaft 189 isjournalled in a bearing portion 193 of the rear wall 199 of a housing200 of control and is provided with a flatted connecting portion 201received in a corresponding recess 202 of a shaft 203 which as will beexplained more fully hereinafter is driven by a motor 204 of the control130. As seen in FIGURE 5, each finger 188 is provided with a flat, icebody-engaging, ejector surface 205 and tapers from a substantiallypentagonal cross-section adjacent shaft 189 to a substantiallytriangular cross-section at. an outer tip 206. The ejector 131 may beformed of a suitable plastic material (e.g. acetyl resin, nylon, etc.)having sufficient strength to apply the necessary ejection forces to theice bodies II in the cavities 133.

The motor 204 rotates ejector 131 about the axis of the shaft 189 in aclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 6, whereby the surfaces 205 of thepair of fingers 188 aligned with each cavity 133 bear against the uppersurface of the ice body at level L and carry it in an are about the axisof the shaft 189 to above the cavity 133 and to laterally beyond thewall 171 of the mold to fall into the subjacent collecting bin 119, asshown in FIGURE 1. A sheathed resistance heater 207 is disposed in themold wall for delivering heat to the mold so as to melt the surface ofthe ice body confronting the mold wall and thereby facilitate thefreeing of the ice body from the mold when the ejector fingers 188 arebrought thereagainst.

To strip the ice body positively from the ejector fingers 188 when theice body reaches a position overlying righthand wall 171, a strippermember208 is mounted on the mold having a plurality of fingers 209a and2091) which overlie respectively the partial dividing walls 134 and thepartition walls 132. As best seen in FIGURE 6, the stripper member 208includes an apron 210 having a recessed connecting portion 211 carriedon an outturned flange 212 at the upper end of the mold side wall 171.The stripper member herein comprises a molded member having the fingersformed integrally with the apron 210. The fingers 209a and 2091) arearranged to rest on the upper edgesof the dividing and partition walls.The flatwise extent of the fingers 209a and 20912 is perpendicular tothe spacing between the fingers, or parallel to the flatwise extent ofthe dividing and partition walls and, thus, the fingers effectivelydefine upper wall extensions of the dividing and partition walls. Asbest seen in FIG- URE 4, the fingers narrow toward their distal ends sothat the spacing between adjoining portions of the fingers overlyingmold side wall 171 is less than the spacing betwgen the distal ends ofthe fingers adjacent ejector shaft 18 The fingers 209a effectivelydefine stripper fingers which are disposed in overlying relationship tothe space S (and cavity 133) mid-Way between the front and rear ends ofthe cavity defined by the partition walls 132. Thus, the stripper finger209a effectively positively blocks re-entry of the ejected ice body backinto the cavity 133 as it is swung about the axis of the shaft 189 bythe ejector fingers 188. As best seen in FIGURE 6, the upper sur- FIGURE7, the switch will be operated with a lesser movement of the actuatoralong the surface 242 into the recess 221 and will require more timesfor actuator 226 to be restored to its normal position as the surface243 moves thereagainst. Alternatively, by repositioning the switch in aclockwise direction from the position of FIGURE 7, the actuator mustmove further along the surface 242 into the recess 221 before actuationof the switch and will more quickly restore the switch to the normalcondition. Thus, a counterclockwise repositioning of the switch causesthe switch to be operated for a longer period of time, whereas aclockwise repositioning causes the switch to be actuated for a lesserperiod of time with the control of the operational time being infinitelyadjustable over a preselected range by means of screw 234.

Referring now to FIGURE 15, a modified form of means for bodilyadjusting the position of switch 224 is shown to comprise a screw 244having, in lieu of head 235, an elongated shaft 245 which projectsoutwardly through a suitable opening 246 in the housing 200. At itsouter end, the shaft 245 is provided with a knurled knob 247 which isarranged for fingertip manipulation to effect the desired adjustment ofscrew 244 from externally of the housing. The shaft 245 may be providedwith suitable indicia means 248outwardly of the housing for indicatingthe sense of adjustment. Thus, the modified form of control as shown inFIGURE 15 is identical to the control provided by screw 234, except thatscrew 244 having the associated shaft 245 permits an adjustment of thepositioning of the switch 224 from externally of the housing.

In FIGURE 16 still another modified form of means for adjusting theposition of switch 224 is shown to comprise a similar control excepthaving a support 249 which is elongated as compared to support 229 andwhich hasa distal end 250 projecting through a slot 251 in the housing200 so as to be manipulatable from externally of the housing. One edge252 of the slot is notched to cooperate with a beveled rib 253 on thesupport end 250 releasably biased thereagainst to hold the support inany one of a plurality of selected pivotal positions.

Bin level control means the housing 200. At its upper end the portion262 is provided with a turned portion 264 which passes through anopening 265 in the rear wall 199 of the housing. The distalend 266 ofthe arm 261 is pivotally received in an opening 267 in the plate 215 anda U-shaped actuating portion generally designated 268 extends betweenturned portion 264 and distal end 266. The U-shaped portion includes anouter portion 269 extendingdownwardly from turned portion 264, a bightportion 276 extending transversely from the lower end of the outerportion 269, and an upturned portion 271 extending from the bightportion to distal end portion 266.

A spring 272 is provided for biasing the sensing arm 261 in a clockwisedirection, as seen in FIGURE 11, and rearwardlyas seen in FIGURE 13.More specifically, the spring 272 includes a coil portion 273 wrappedaround the distal end 266 rearwardly of plate 215 and terminating in anelongated end 274having a turned portion 275 adapted to bear against theright side wall 276 of the housing 280. The opposite end 2770f thespring 272 is provided with a turned first force transfer portion 278bearing against the right-hand side of the leg 271 (see FIGURE 14) ofthe U-shaped portion 268 of the sensing arm with the spring being undertension to forcibly bias the leg in a clockwise direction as seen inFIGURE 11. Spring end 277 further includes an intermediate, second forcetransfer portion 279 extending from the coil portion 273 to bear againstthe forward edge 280 of the leg 271. The coil portion 273 is undercompression to provide a biasing force through portion 279 against leg271 of the sensing arm to urge the entire sensing arm rearwardly, or tothe right as seen in FIGURE 13, to urge leg 269 against the rear wall199 of housing 200. As shown in FIGURE 13, the rear wall 199 is providedwith a forwardly projecting boss 281 which lies in the path of movementof rear leg 269 as it moves along the wall 199. The boss 281 ispreferably provided with an inclined, camming side surface which asshown in FIGURE 13 is defined by a rounded profile for camming theU-shaped actuating portion 268 away from the wall 199 when the leg 269is moved against the boss.

The bight 270 of the U-shaped portion 268 is movably received in a slot282 of a crank 283 which includes a cam follower 284 (FIGURE 11)engaging a rearward cam section 285 of the cam portion 220 of shaft 203.The crank is pivotally mounted on a boss 286 projecting forwardly from arear wall 199 of the housing 260 by means of a pivot screw 287. As shownin FIGURE 11, pivoting of the crank 283 about the pivot 287 is effectedby the rotation of cam section 285 as follower 284 is urged thereagainstby the spring 272.

The crank 283 is provided with a tab 288 which engages an actuator 289of a shut-off switch 290 secured to the rear wall 199 by a pair ofscrews 291. The pivotal movement of the crank 283 thusly operates theswitch 299 and concurrently acts through the actuating portion 268 ofthe sensing arm 261 to move the outer sensing portion 262 of the sensingarm between a lowermost position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 12 toan uppermost position shown in full lines therein. Further, the user maymove the sensing arm portion 262 to an upper shut-off position as shownin broken lines in FIGURE 11, which, as illustrated in FIGURE 14, movesthe leg portion 268 of the sensing arm in a counterclockwise directionbeyond the boss 281. As indicated above, the portion 277 of the coilspring 272 forces the leg 269 of the U-shaped actuating portion againstthe wall 199 with a second force which is transverse to the forcegenerated by the spring 272 through the portion 278 bearing against theleg 271 of the actuating portion. The relative magnitudes of thesetransverse forces is coordinated with the slope of the boss 281providing the camming of leg 269 away from wall 199 so as to assure theretention of the leg 269 behind the boss against the force developedbetween spring end 278 and leg 271 tending to move the leg 269 back pastthe boss 281. Thus, the leg 269 is effectively retained by the boss 281with the sensing arm in the upper position of FIGURE 14 wherein the tab288 is spaced from the actuator 289 to thereby preclude furtheroperation of the ice maker. The resilient resistance of the spring 272may be readily overcome, however, when it is desired to return thesensing arm to the lower positions of FIGURE 11, by intentionalmanipulation by the user. Thus, to return the sensing arm 261 to theoperating position, the user merely moves the control arm against thecompressional bias of spring 272 past the boss 281 in a clockwisedirection, whereupon normal operation of the sensing arm with portion278 biasing the actuating portion 268 in a clockwise direction as shownin FIGURE 11 may again occur.

Manual start means At certain times, such as in the testing of the icemaker 118 during manufacture thereof, it is desirable to effect movementof the cam portion 220 to initiate an ejection cycle in the absence ofthe formation of any ice bodies in the mold cavities. To this end, thecam 228 is provided with an additional camming surface 292 which asshown in FIGURE 8 faces axially of the shaft 203. Operation of switch223 by the engagement of cam surface 292 with the actuator 225 thereofis effected by manual movement of the entire shaft 203 axiallyrearwardly, or to the right as seen in FIGURE 8. As best seen in FIGURE3, gear 217 is provided with a plurality of integrally molded springfingers, 293. The shaft is biased forwardly or to the left as seen inFIGURE 8 by the spring fingers which bear against the plate 215 and urgethe gear 217 axially forwardly, or to the left as seen in FIGURE 8,against a washer 294 held against the gear by a suitable screw 295extending through the washer and gear into the shaft cam portion 220 andprovided with a head slot 295a. The cam portion 220 is provided with aplurality of forwardly projecting lugs 296 which bear against the coverplate to have low friction movement thereagainst'and locate the cam 220as shown in FIGURE 8. The forward end 218 of the shaft 203 is axiallyslidably received in the opening 219 in plate 215 and the shaft portion203 in bearing 198 is axially movable therein to permit limited axialrearward movement of the shaft and cam, to the right as seen in FIG- URE8, and thereby cause the cam surface 292 to engage the actuator 225, tooperate switch 223. Such rearward movement of the shaft and cam tooperate switch 223 is easily effected by a manual pushing force appliedagainst the face of gear 217. Release of themanually applied force tothe gear after motor 204 has been energized sufliciently to rotate cam220 to maintain switch 223 closed permits the stressed spring fingers293 as illustrated in FIGURE 10 to restore the shaft 203 to the fullline, retracted position of FIGURE 8, while the switch 223 is maintainedin circuit energizing disposition. Thus, the cam 220 includes a firstcamming means 222 which operates with actuator 225 of switch 223 tooperate the switch and thereby energize the drive motor 204 upon apreselected amount of rotation of the cam 220 from the reset positionwherein the cam stops at the end of each ejection cycle. In addition,the cam 220 includes a second cam means 292 which energizes the motor204 upon a preselected axial movement of the cam 220 from thepreselected retracted position shown in full lines in FIG- URE 8.

Alternatively, the drive may be rotated manually to cause the camsurface 222 to operate actuator 225 to energize motor 204. The manualrotation may be effected by means of a suitable tool, such as ascrewdriver or the like, in engagement with a slot 216a of the screwdrive gear 216 to rotate the cam 222 sufi'iciently to operate the switch223. As shown in FIGURE 3, the drive gear 216 comprises a gear in theseriesthereof between drive motor 204 and shaft 203 which is a gearother than the gear directly associated with the shaft, herein gear 217.Thus, a mechanical advantage is provided by the gearing itself inmanually adjusting the disposition of camsurface 222.

Operation of the ice maker Operation of ice maker 118 may best beunderstood with reference to the schematic wiring diagram of FIG- URE 2.As shown therein, switch 224 is provided with a moving contact 2241) anda fixed contact 224a. The fixed contact 224a is connected to thesolenoid 128a of solenoid valve 128 which in turn is connected to oneside L of the power supply, which may comprise the conventional singlephase, 120-volt alternating house current power supply. The movingcontact 22412 is connected to a first fixed contact 223a of switch 223and to a fixed contact 254a of thermostat switch 254. The switch 223 asindicated above further includes a moving contact 22312 which isconnected to the motor 204 which in turn is connected to the other sideL of the power supply and to one end of the mold heater 207, the otherend of the mold heater being connected to contact 254a of thermostat254. Moving contact 223b of switch 223 is further connected to a fixedcontact 290a of switch 290. The thermostat 254 includes a moving contact25411 which is connected to a moving contact 290b of switch 290. Switch290 further includes a second fixed contact 290c which is connected toside L of the power supply. Switch 223 further includes a second fixedcontact 2230 which is also connected to side L of the power supply.

Assuming that mold 126 contains a quantity of water previously deliveredthereto from the water supply and which is in the process of beingfrozen in the cavities 133 to form the ice bodies II, and the level ofthe ice bodies in collecting bin 119 is below the preselected level, thefunctioning of ice maker 118 is as follows. Mold thermostat 254 sensesthe relatively warm temperature of the mold indicating the incompletefreezing of the ice bodies. Thus, contact 2541) of thermostat 254 isspaced from contact 254a breaking the circuit from power supply side Lto control motor 204. Further, switch 290 is in. the position shown inFIGURE 2 with its moving con-- tact 29012 engaging fixed contact 290C,and switch 223 is in the position shown in FIGURE 2 with its movingcontact 223b engaging its fixed contact 223a. 224 is in the openposition having its moving contact 2241) spaced from fixed contact 224a,thereby de-energizing the solenoid 128a. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2, thecontrol is .in a de-energized condition wherein none of the motor 204,heater 207, or solenoid 128a is energized.

As discussed above, when the temperature sensed by thermostat 254 dropsa small amount below freezing, such as to approximately 23 F., thethermostat cont-act 254b moves into engagement with fixed contact 254athus establishing a circuit from power supply side L through switch 290and switch 223 to the motor 204. At the same time, the heater 207 isenergized by the closing of thermostat switch 254. In the shut-offposition, the fingers 188 of the ejector 131 are in the positionofFIGURE 6. Energizationof motor 204 causes a rotation of shaft 189 tobring the fingers around in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 6,to engage the right-hand upper surface of the ice bodies in the cavities133. During this rotation, the mold is being heated by the heater 207 tofree the ice bodies from the mold. During the initial portion of thisrotation, cam 220 firstly actuates switch 223 to throw the movingcontact 223!) from fixed contact 223a into engagement with fixed contact2230, thereby providing a holding circuit from power supply side Ldirectly to the motor 204 and thereby maintaining the motor energizedirrespective of the condition of thermostat switch-254 during theremainder of the ejection cycle. A small additional amount of rotationof motor 204 causes cam section 285 to pivot crank 283 in a clockwisedirection, as seen in FIG- URE 11, and thereby raise the sensing armportion 262 upwardly from the collecting bin 119. Concurrently, themovement of tab 288 away from actuator 289 causes moving contact 29% ofswitch 290 to move from fixed contact 2900 and into engagement withfixed contact 290a. Thus, heater 207 is energized through switches 223and 290 in series with thermostat switch 254 so as to maintain theheater under control of the thermostat switch while allowing the motor204 to be independent thereof.

In the event that the ice bodies have not been suflicient- 1y freed fromthe mold walls through energization of heater 207 suchv as to permit theejector fingers 188 to force the, ice bodies outwardly from the cavitieswhen. the fingers engage the ice bodies, .the motor 204 stalls. When theheater sufficiently frees the ice bodies .from the mold walls to permitthe ejector fingers to force the ice bodies outwardly therefrom,rotation of motor 204 recommences. As the fingers sweep through thecavities in a clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 6, the sensing armportion 262 moves downwardly into the collecting bin 119. Assuming thatthe level of ice bodies therein is below the preselected upper level,the arm moves unimpededly to its lowermost position. In this position,tab 288 acts against actuator 289 to dispose switch 290 with movingcontact 29011 in engagement with fixed contact 2900.

After approximately 330 degrees of rotation, recess 221 of cam portion220 moves into alignment with actuator The switch 13 226 of switch 224(FIGURE 7), thereby permitting the bias of switch 224 to close movingcontact 224b with fixed contact 224a. However, as contact 254a isconnected to power supply side L through switches 254 and 290, thesolenoid 128a is shunted out and no energization of the solenoid iseffected at this time.

Motor 204 continues to rotate, driving the ejector fingers upwardly fromthe mold cavities 133 and bringing the ice bodies outwardly from thecavities onto the stripper fingers 209 in an inverted position thereon.The cam 220 now moves moving contact 223b of switch 223 from contact223cinto engagement with contact 223a. The motor is now energized frompower supply side L through switches 290, 254 and 223 and, thus,continues to rotate. The continued movement of the fingers 188 of theejector 131 causes the ice bodies to move downwardly over the uppersurface 213 of the stripper fingers into the collecting bin 119. Asdiscussed above, the ice bodies are positively stripped from the fingersby the improved construction of the ejector fingers, providing the icebodies II for delivery to the collecting bin in the bifurcated formshown in FIGURE 15.

After the ice bodies are stripped and conducted away from the mold tothe collecting bin, the ejector fingers continue to move in a clockwisedirection as shown in FIGURE 6 to once again sweep through the cavities133. During this second movement of the fingers through the cavities,the cam 220 re-positions the moving contact 22312 of switch 223 inengagement with fixed contact 2230, thereby re-establishing the holdingcircuit to motor 204. By utilizing the second rotational cycle of theice maker, a sutficient time delay is obtained to permit the thermostat254 to reset notwithstanding the relatively high reset temperaturerequirement thereof. The resetting of the thermostat is facilitated'bythe now complete removal of ice bodies from the mold permitting the heatenergy from electrical heater 207 to raise the temperature of the rearmold wall 174 as sensed by thermostat 254 to the reset temperature,herein approximately 50 F.

As the motor 204 recycles cam 220, switch 290 is again operated by thecam to throw its moving contact 29012 from contact 290a into engagementwith contact 290a. As indicated above, at this time, sufficient heatfrom the heater 207 will have been delivered to the mold wall 174 tocause the temperature sensed by thermostat sensor 255 to cause movingcontact 25417 to become spaced from fixed contact 254a. This transfer ofthe thermostat switch may be effected, for example, at a temperature ofapproximately 50 F. :5 F. Thus, mold heater 207 is doenergized at thistime. Continued operation of motor 204 by means of the holding circuitthrough switch 223 causes the cam 220 to rotate once again to theposition wherein moving contact 22412, of switch 224 closes with fixedcontact 224a thereof. At this time, however, thermostat switch 254 isopen and, thus, the solenoid 128a is not shunted out when switch 224closes but rather is energized through switch 224 and mold heater 207 toopen valve 128 and deliver water from the water supply through the inlet127 into the mold'as discussed above.

Further, as discussed above, the adjustment of the position of switch224 by means of the adjustment of support 229 permits an accuratecontrol of the time during which the switch 224 is closed. As indicatedbriefly above, if the quantity of water delivered to the mold during theoriginally set time controlled by the adjustment of screw 234 is tooshort to provide the necessary quantity of water to the mold cavities,suitable adjustment of the screw may be effected to adjust the positionof switch 224 to permit the closing of the switch 224 for a longerperiod of time. Reversely, if the quantity of water is too great,adjustment of screw 234 may be effected ina reverse direction to shortenthe .water delivery time. The indicia means 241, as shown in FIGURE 3,248 as shown in FIGURE 15, and 297 as shown in FIGURE 16, indicate thedirection of adjustment necessary to increase or decrease the quantityof water.

The continued rotation of motor 204 and, thus, of cam 220 subsequent tothe reopening of switch 224 causes moving contact 22312 of switch 223 tomove from contact 223c to contact 2231:, thereby breaking the holdingcircuit to motor 204 and de-energizing the control until the nextquantity of ice bodies are formed in the cavities 133 to initiateanother cycle as described above.

When the level of ice bodies in the collecting bin 119 is sufficient topreclude the free movement of the sensing arm portion 262 downwardlyinto the collecting bin to the lower position shown in dotted lines inFIGURE 12, the operation of control 130 is interrupted because tab 288does not permit contact from fixed contact 290a. Thus, the portion ofthe cycle wherein motor 204 is energized through switches 290 and 254cannot be effected, and the ice maker remains inoperative until suchtime as the level of ice bodies in the collecting bin is loweredsufiiciently to permit the sensing arm to drop due to biasing action ofspring 272 and thereby operate actuator 289 to again throw movingcontact 29% into engagement with fixed contact 2900.

It should be noted that the interruption of the operation of the icemaker by the blocking of sensing arm 261 may be effected during eitherof the two 360 degree movements of the ejector fingers 188 through thecavities 133. Thus, when a fresh group of ice bodies is delivered to thecollecting bin and raises the level thereof above the preselected level,this condition is sensed during the immediately following second 360degree rotation of the ejector whereupon the ice maker is de-energizedand prevented from recycling after the holding switch 223 opens.

Ice maker 118 is extremely simple and economical of construction whileproviding long trouble-free life. It is of minimum size and weight forfacilitated installation in freezers and the like where minimum size isa desideraturn. The positive stripping of the ice bodies from theejector and the provision of the ice bodies in bifurcated form forfacilitated selective use as single or double size icebodies provides ahighly desirable feature.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In an ice maker apparatus having means for forming a plurality of icebodies, means defining a space for storing ice bodies, and means fordelivering ice bodies from saidforming means to said space, means forcontrolling the delivering means, comprising:

operating means;

sensing means having a sensing portion movable into said space forsensing the level of ice bodies therein, and an actuation portion;

means for operatively associating said actuation portion with saidoperating means;

stop means for preventing operative association of said actuationportion with said operating means as a result of said sensing elementbeing disposed in retained association with said stop means;

spring means normally biasing said actuation portion into operativeassociation with said operating means and biasing said sensing meansinto retained association with said stop means as a result of manualmovement of said sensing means to a preselected shut-oh? positionwherein said sensing portion is spaced outwardly of said space; and

means responsive to the disposition of said sensing means in saidshut-oft position for precluding operation of said delivering means.

290!) of switch 290 to move 2. The ice maker of claim 1 wherein saidspring means comprises a single coil spring.

3. The ice maker apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biasing meanscomprises a coil spring having a fixed portion, a first force transferportion for biasing said actuation portion of the sensing means intooperative associa tion with said operating means as a result of torsionforces of said spring, and a second force transfer portion for biasingsaid sensing means against movement from said retained association withsaid stop means as a result of axial forces of said spring.

4. The ice maker apparatus spring is axially compressed.

5. The ice maker apparatus of claim 3 wherein said of claim 3 whereinsaid coil actuation portion of the sensing means comprises a turned rodand said coil spring is disposed coaxially on one portion of said rod.

6. The ice maker apparatus of claim 3 wherein said actuation portion ofthe sensing means comprises a turned rod and said coil spring isdisposed coaxially on one portion of said rod, and said transferportions engage portions of said rod extending radially from said oneportion.

7. In an ice maker apparatus having means for forming a plurality of icebodies, means defining a space for storing ice bodies, and means fordelivering ice bodies from said forming means to said space, means forcontrolling the delivering means, comprising:

operating means;

sensing means having a sensing portion movable into said space forsensing the level of ice bodies therein, and an actuation portion;

means for operatively associating said actuation portion with saidoperating means;

wall means adjacent said sensing means and having a stop projectionthereon disposed to prevent operative association of said actuationportion with said operating means as disposed in retained engagementwith said stop projection;

spring means normally biasing said actuation portion into operativeassociation with said operating means and biasing said sensing meansagainst said wall means to be in retained engagement with said stopprojection as a result of manual movement of said sensing means to apreselected shut-ofi position wherein said sensing portion is spacedoutwardly of said space and said sensing means is disposed behind saidstop projection; and

means responsive to the disposition of said sensing means in saidshut-off position for precluding operation of said delivering means.

8. The ice maker apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuation portioncomprises a U-shaped rod portion having one leg movably engaging saidwall means and an opposite leg engaged by said spring means for biasingsaid sensing means.

9. The ice maker apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuation portioncomprises a U-shaped rod portion having one leg movably engaging saidWall means and an opposite leg engaged by said spring means for biasingsaid sensing means, and said means for operatively associating saidactuation portion with said operating means comprises a crankoperatively connected to the bight of said U-shaped rod portions.

10. The ice maker apparatus .of claim 7 wherein said actuation portioncomprises a U-shaped rod portion having one leg movably engaging saidwall means and an opposite leg engaged by said spring means for biasingsaid sensing means, said opposite leg having a turned distal end, andsaid spring means comprises a coil spring coaxially carried on saidturned distal end.

11. The ice maker apparatus of claim 7 wherein said .actuation portioncomprises a U-shaped rod portion having one leg movably engaging saidwall means and an opposite a result of said sensing elementbeing legengaged by said spring means for biasing said sensing means, saidopposite leg having a turned distal end extending perpendicularly tosaid wall means, and said spring means comprises a coil spring coaxiallycarried on said turned distal end and acting compressively to bias saidone leg of said U-shaped rod portion normally to said surface.

12. The ice maker apparatus of claim 7 wherein said controlling means isprovided with a housing, and said wall means comprises a portion of saidhousing, said sensing means including a rod portion extending axiallythrough said housing and connecting said actuating portion in saidhousing and said sensing portion exteriorly of said housing.

13. In an ice maker apparatus having means for forming a plurality ofice bodies, means defining a space for storing ice bodies, and means fordelivering ice bodies from said forming means to said space, means forcontrolling the delivering means, comprising:

a earn;

a sensing element having a sensing portion movable into said space forsensing the levelof ice bodies therein, andan actuation portion;

a crank operatively associating said actuation portion with said cam;

a stop adjacent said actuation portion of said sensing element anddisposed to prevent operative association of said actuation portion withsaid cam as a result ot said actuation portion being in retainedassociation with said stop;

a single coil spring normally biasing said crank, through said actuationportion into operative association with said cam and biasing saidactuation portion into retained association with said stop as a resultof manual movement of said sensing element to a preselected shut-offposition wherein said sensing portion is spaced outwardly of said spaceand said crank is disposed in a retracted position; and

means responsive to the disposition of said crank in said retractedposition for precluding operation of said delivering means.

14. In an ice maker having a sensing element and means for moving thesensing element in a collecting space for sensing the level of icebodies in the collecting space, means for-latching the-sensing elementin a preselected position, comprising:

a coil spring biasing said sensing element in a first direction and asecond direction transverse to said first direction; and

stop means selectively engageable by said sensing element responsive tothe biasing of the sensingelement in said second direction to maintainsaid sensing element in engagement therewith and thereby precludemovement of the sensing element as a result of the biasing thereof insaid first direction.

15.The ice maker means of claim 14 wherein said stop means includes cammeans for urging the sensing element oppositely to said second directionas a result of movement of the sensing element in said first directionand in a direction opposite to said first direction for guiding thesensing element past the stop means when the sensing element is manuallymoved in either of said first direction or oppositely thereto past thestop means.

16. The ice maker means of claim 14 wherein said stop means comprisesmeans defining a projection extending oppositely to said seconddirection.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT A. OLEARY,Primary Examiner.

W. E. WAYNER, Assistant Examiner.

14. IN AN ICE MAKER HAVING A SENSING ELEMENT AND MEANS FOR MOVING THESENSING ELEMENT IN A COLLECTING SPACE FOR SENSING THE LEVEL OF ICEBODIES IN THE COLLECTING SPACE, MEANS FOR LATCHING THE SENSING ELEMENTIN A PRESELECTED POSITION, COMPRISING: A COIL SPRING BIASING SAIDSENSING ELEMENT IN A FIRST DIRECTION AND A SECOND DIRECTION TRANSVERSETO SAID FIRST DIRECTION; AND STOP MEANS SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE BY SAIDSENSING ELEMENT RESPONSIVE TO THE BIASING OF THE SENSING ELEMENT IN SAIDSECOND DIRECTION TO MAINTAIN SAID SENSING ELEMENT IN ENGAGEMENTTHEREWITH AND THEREBY PRECLUDE MOVEMENT OF THE SENSING ELEMENT AS ARESULT OF THE BIASING THEREOF IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION.